Former Pennsylvania Sen. Rick Santorum has announced he is suspending his presidential campaign.The announcement came during a news conference in Gettysburg around 2:35 p.m. Tuesday.It also comes just two weeks before Pennsylvania and four other states are set to who primaries.Mitt Romney released the following statement Tuesday afternoon on Santorum's announcement:"Sen. Santorum is an able and worthy competitor, and I congratulate him on the campaign he ran. He has proven himself to be an important voice in our party and in the nation. We both recognize that what is most important is putting the failures of the last three years behind us and setting America back on the path to prosperity."With several polls showing Santorum's lead over former Massachusetts Governor Mitt Romney shrinking in Pennsylvania, his exit from the GOP race now means he'll avoid a potentially devastating political blow of losing his home state.Santorum says a big part of his decision came from his three-year-old daughter Bella's most recent hospitalization.Pennsylvania's Primary Election is scheduled for April 24.

GETTYSBURG, Pa. —

Former Pennsylvania Sen. Rick Santorum has announced he is suspending his presidential campaign.

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The announcement came during a news conference in Gettysburg around 2:35 p.m. Tuesday.

It also comes just two weeks before Pennsylvania and four other states are set to who primaries.

Mitt Romney released the following statement Tuesday afternoon on Santorum's announcement:

"Sen. Santorum is an able and worthy competitor, and I congratulate him on the campaign he ran. He has proven himself to be an important voice in our party and in the nation. We both recognize that what is most important is putting the failures of the last three years behind us and setting America back on the path to prosperity."

With several polls showing Santorum's lead over former Massachusetts Governor Mitt Romney shrinking in Pennsylvania, his exit from the GOP race now means he'll avoid a potentially devastating political blow of losing his home state.

Santorum says a big part of his decision came from his three-year-old daughter Bella's most recent hospitalization.